How Do Puppies Act When Their Adult Teeth Break Through?

If nothing else is in sight, your teething pooch may go after your toes.

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Your little pooch has started chewing on things you didn't even know he could get to. He's leaving little drool piles all over your house and he seems to be a little bit more clingy and whiny lately. If you're wondering what's going on, his grownup teeth are kicking his little teeth out; your little puppy is becoming a dog.

Time Frame

Your little bundle of joy was born without any teeth, just like a human baby. The time frame between your puppy getting and losing his baby teeth, and his permanent teeth erupting is much more rapid than in humans, however. At approximately 3 weeks old, your pup's deciduous, or baby, teeth begin erupting and he has all 28 deciduous teeth at around 6 weeks old. At around 3 1/2 months, his permanent teeth will begin forming and pushing on the crowns of the deciduous teeth. All 42 adult teeth should erupt by around 7 months old.

What's Happening?

This process is the same as in humans: the roots of his baby teeth begin to weaken and are absorbed. As the permanent teeth grow, they begin pushing the deciduous teeth out of the gums. Your pup's baby teeth may become loose and you may find the small crowns of his baby teeth stuck in soft toys, in and around his bedding or in similar spots, but he'll normally just swallow them as he eats.

Drooling and Food Preferences

Your active little pooch who seemed like he was starving at every meal may become disinterested in his food. Don't be too worried unless he's not eating at all; his gums are likely sore during this time and eating could be somewhat painful. You may also notice lots of drool being left on your lap during his teething-time naps.

Irritated Chewing Machines

Your puppy probably won't show a great deal of change in his temperament, although don't be too surprised if he seems slightly irritable or whiny. Take any experience you've had with human babies who are teething as your pup is going through the same thing. His mouth is tender and there's no way for him to get away from it. Well, besides chewing on your favorite pair of shoes or anything else he can get his mouth on, that is. He'll have a greater urge to chew during the entire teething process, so set him up with some soft-but-firm rubber toys or specially designed puppy teething toys. Avoid bones, hooves and ice cubes during this time.